GB2178378A - Folding handle member for a baby stroller - Google Patents

Abstract

Latch means 20 for releasably holding the handle member 10 in pushing positions of different height and in a folded position are provided which comprises a plate 22 having an elongated slot 34 and cam follower fingers adjacent the slot for engaging a cam shoulder on a fixed post 50 for automatically separating a guide portion of the post from the slot to allow passage of the post along the slot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Folding handle member for a baby stroller BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention is directed generally to handles for pushable vehicles and more specifically to an adjustable folding handle for a baby stroller or the like.

Summary of the invention In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an adjustable folding handle member for a baby stroller or the like is disclosed. The handle member is pivotally mounted on the frame of the stroller. Latch means are provided coupling the handle member to the frame for selectively releasably holding the handle member in one of a plurality of different positions.

In a more specific aspect of the invention, the latch means comprises a lever pivotally mounted at one end to the frame, and a cam member mounted on the handle member and coupled to the lever. The lever further comprises a plate having an elongated slot having first portions of one width and a second portion of a wider width. The cam member further comprises a post extending through the slot. The post has a head of a dimension greater than the wider width which is engageable with one side of the plate to prevent disengagement of the post from the slot.

The post has a guide portion adjacent the head of a width substantially equal to the wider width and a stem adjacent the guide portion of a width substantially equal to the one width. The post further has a cam shoulder at the junction of the guide portion and stem adapted upon movement of the handle member from the pushing position to the folded position to engage a cam follower finger on the plate and cam the plate laterally relative to the guide position so that the guide portion is clear of the slot and the stem can be moved through the first portion of the slot.

A primary advantage of the present invention is to provide an adjustable folding handle for a stroller or the like that is of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture. The handle is readily adjustable to different heights to facilitate pushing the stroller by persons of varying height, and also, eliminates the need for manual operation of the latch mechanism as the handle approaches its latched folded position, which manual operation would normally be difficult in that position of the handle.

The invention and its advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention presented below.

Brief description of the drawings The details of the invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a baby stroller in which a preferred embodiment of the adjustable folding handle mechanism of this invention is incorporated; Figure 2 is an enlarged segmental side elevational view partially in section of one of the handle mechanisms embodied in the stroller of Figure 1 and shown in its uppermost latched position; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the handle mechanism in a lower latched position; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the handle mechanism in its latched folded position; Figure 5 is an enlarged section view of the latch lever of the handle mechanism taken substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 3; and Figure 6 is an enlarged section view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Detailed description of the invention With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a handle member 10 of the invention is shown incorporated in a baby stroller 12, only one side of which is shown, the other being a mirror image thereof. The stroller 12 comprises a seat 11, side arms 13 and a frame 14 formed of tubular members secured to the seat and side arms on each side of the stroller.

The free ends of legs 16 of U-shaped tubular handle member 10 are secured to frame 14 for pivotal movement about fixed spindles 18, only one of which is shown.

Referring to Figures 2-6, a latch means 20 is disclosed coupling each leg 16 to frame 14. Since the latch means 20 on each side of stroller 12 are identical, only one will be described in detail. Each latch means comprises a latch plate 22 having a handle 24 at one end, and its opposite end 26 secured by a rivet 28 to one end of an arm 30 rigidly secured to frame 14. The latch plate 22 is covered by a decorative cover 32 of U-shaped cross section. The plate 22 has an elongated slot 34 having two spaced portions 36, 38 of one width, and another portion 40 and spaced notches 42, 44 of a width wider than the one width. The plate 22 is coupled to a cam post 46 (Figure 5) having a stem 48 which is rigidly secured by any suitable means to a leg 16 of handle member 10.The post 46 has a head 50 of a dimension greater than the wider width of slot 34 for engaging one side of plate 22 for holding post 46 in the slot. The plate 22 is biased into engagement with head 50 by its natural resilience resulting from the way it is mounted on arm 30. The post 46 further has a guide portion 52 interposed between head 50 and stem 48 of a width substantially equal to the width of portion 40 and spaced notches 42, 44. The post 46 also has a cam shoulder 54 interposed between stem 48 and guide portion 52.

In the operation of this invention, in the uppermost pushing position of handle 10 seen in Figures 1 and 2, guide portion 52 nests in notch 42 which releasably holds the handle in the uppermost pushing position.

To move handle member 10 to a lower pushing position as seen in Figure 3, handle 24 of plate 22 is manually moved in the direction of arrow F (Figure 5) into the dotted position shown for separating guide portion 52 from notch 42. Handle 10 is then moved downwardly causing stem 48 to pass through slot portion 36 and guide portion 52 to nest in notch 44 upon release of plate 22, as best seen in Figures 3 and 5.

To move handle 10 to its folded position seen in Figure 4, handle 24 of plate 22 is manually moved in the direction of arrow F (Figure 5) for separating guide portion 52 from notch 44. In this position, handle 10 can be moved downwardly causing stem 48 to pass through slot portion 38. Upon release of plate 22, guide portion 52 nests in slot portion 40 as seen dotted in Figure 6. Further downward movement of handle 10 causes guide portion 52 to reverse its direction in slot portion 40 and to approach a pair of laterally extending cam follower fingers 56 along the edges of slot portion 38. Further downward movement of handle 10 causes fingers 56 to engage cam shoulder 54 and automatically move cam plate 22 laterally in the direction of arrow C seen in Figure 6.

Continued downward movement of handle 10 causes stem 48 to pass through slot portion 38 and plate 22 to return to its normal position causing guide portion 52 to move towards notch 44 when the handle reaches its folded position, as seen in Figures 4 and 6.

Preferably, guide portion 52 does not nest in notch 44 when the handle is in the folded position, whereby handle 16 may be readily unfolded without releasing handle 24.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. An adjustable folding handle member for a baby stroller or the like comprising: a frame; a handle member pivotally mounted on said frame; and latch means coupling said handle member to said frame for selectively releasably holding said handle member in one of a plurality of positions.

2. An adjustable handle member according to claim 1 wherein one of said positions is a stroller pushing position and another of said positions is a folded position.

3. An adjustable handle member according to claim 2 wherein said latch means comprises a cam follower plate pivotally mounted at one end to said frame and a cam member mounted on said handle member and coupled to said plate.

4. An adjustable handle member according to claim 3 wherein said plate has an elongated slot having a first portion of one width and a second portion of a wider width, and said cam member comprises a post extending through said slot, said post having (1) a head of a dimension greater than said wider width which is engageable with one side of said plate for holding said post in said slot, (2) a guide portion adjacent said head of a width substantially equal to said wider width, and (3) a stem adjacent said guide portion of a width substantially equal to said one width, and a cam shoulder at the junction of said guide portion and said stem for camming said plate laterally relative to said guide portion for moving said guide portion out of said slot past said one side of said plate and allowing movement of said stem through said first portion of said slot upon movement of said handle member from said stroller pushing postion to said folded postion.

5. An adjustable handle member according to claim 4 wherein said slot has a pair of spaced notches, and said guide portion selectively enters said notches when said handle member reaches said stroller pushing position for releasably locking said handle member in said stroller pushing position.

6. An adjustable handle member according to claim 5 wherein said plate has a laterally extending finger adjacent said slot, said finger having a cam follower surface engageable by said cam shoulder.

7. An adjustable handle member according to claim 6 wherein said plate of said cam follower lever is normally biased into engagement with said head, and said lever is manually laterally movable against the bias for disengaging said guide portion from one of said notches for releasing said handle member for movement to one of said positions.

8. An adjustable handle member according to claim 7 wherein said frame has a pair of spaced, upwardly extending arms, and said handle member is U-shaped with the ends thereof pivotally secured to the ends of said arms, and one of said latch means couples each of said arms to each of said ends of said handle member.

9. An adjustable folding handle member for a baby stroller substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.